LATEST POSTS

ARCHIVES

INSTAGRAM

Have You Had Your Essential Carbs Today?

February 27, 2010

If there’s one thing that tends to upset people who come to see me more than anything it’s the idea of reducing carbohydrate intake. I don’t ask everybody to back off the carbs, but it’s safe to say that a vast majority get (at the very least) a short-term low-carb bootcamp. And while some take it with a sigh that indicates they kinda knew it was coming, and some are so keen and determined to change that they’re prepared to suck it up and do what it takes others look at me as though I’d asked them to slice’n’stirfry their dog (not saying you’d be one of these people of course).

The objections come in all shapes and sizes –

“I’ve tried that before and I just couldn’t do it. I felt too awful” (Detoxification hurts. But then you feel amazing. And you realize that what you thought your body ‘needed’ was actually the worst thing you could eat)

“Last time I gave up starch all my bloating went away, but it’s just not sustainable, is it?” (Um, yes. What would you have done if you lived in an era where processed grains did not abound? And don’t even get me started on the bizarre logic of those who admit it worked for them previously but yet still aren’t quite prepared to do it again)

“But what about fiber?” (Eat green vegetables. The stalky ones in particular are very fibrous, and excellent for detoxifying excess estrogen, otherwise known as butt and hip lard)

“It’s too expensive” (So is illness. Or the myriad of things you flash your cash for in an effort to feel better about yourself when you can’t commit to doing what it takes for optimal health and physique)

“It’s not practical. I work long hours – I don’t even have time for breakfast, let alone to prepare anything for during the day! And I don’t get home until after 7!” (Um, next time you complain about working late, don’t do it to your Personal Trainer – they hardly ever make it home before 9 or 10, and still find time to cook dinner PLUS their food for the next day. Long story short? Real food is for fuel, not fun or convenience. Only if you want results of course.)

“There’s not enough variety” (That’s just a fear-based perception. I’ve heard it said that the average Westerner eats only 18 different foods per year – sure, you might mix’n’match your grains so it looks like more, but grains and sugars – however they appear, and disregarding the fact that they’re actually the same thing – are grains and sugars. There’s only so many ways that cookie crumbles. You want real food; real variety? Beef, lamb, ‘roo, rabbit, pork, venison, duck, any game meat, buffalo, organ meats, eggs, fish, crustaceans, raw cacao, super-foods, green veg of at least 20 different varieties each season, real salt, and pepper, and full-fat dairy, and spices, and herbs, and coconut oil and coconut milk, and olive oil, avocado, beef – okay I said that but it’s just so good, and oh! olives, and so much more I’ve left off. Now that’s variety.

“It just sounds too tough. I don’t know if I can do it” –

And that’s what it comes down to, isn’t it? It’s the same with any great challenge we face in life. Invariably and most particularly with anything that threatens to actually make life better. It’s tough. It takes effort. Sacrifice. Commitment. And you don’t always know if you’ve got what it takes. You’re scared of what might happen if you try and find out. So you rely on vaguely remembered ‘evidence’ that eating low-carb is not healthy. Like that old chestnut about protein causing kidney problems. An idea based on a study in which participants with existing kidney failure were found to improve when they avoided sugar-based and processed proteins. So let me ask you this – and thanks to whoever it was I stole this analogy from, I can’t remember – just because going for a jog with a broken ankle is a terrible idea does it also stand to reason that jogging will cause your ankle to break? Do you see what I’m saying? And if you don’t then there are a myriad of resources just chock full of peer-reviewed studies proving conclusively that at least 75% of us can’t tolerate carbohydrate in any significant amount. Same just can’t be said about proteins and fats.

Essential carbohydrates? There ain’t no such thang.

Chew on that for a while.

Life is Now. Press Play.

Kat

PS – It’s not all about cutting carbs. If you take something out, you’ve gotta put something back in. Check out this article on low-carb dieting, the right way, or contact me to find out more about having a BioSignature assessment to determine your unique hormonal profile and nutritional needs. But here’s a tip – if love handles are yours no matter how much you love to hate ’em, then it’s high time to cut that starch and start balancing your insulin. Or you most certainly will pay the price in more ways than you care to imagine. That’s my two cents worth, anyway.

PPS – I’ve just started another 14-day low-carb bootcamp myself. I like to do one at least every 6 weeks. I’m only a few days in and would love some camraderie so drop me a note in the comments if you’re willing to commit to changing your own eating habits for at least the next 2 weeks.

If you liked this post please tweet it below. Thankyou!

If you’re a regular reader and haven’t been active in the BodyIncredible community then now is the time – I want your involvement, your feedback, and your questions! So why not make this the day to leave a comment before you go – if you’re reading from RSS or email you’ll have to enter the blog to do this. You can do that by clicking on the title of this piece. ‘Post a comment’ is at the article end, right under the ’share this’ and ‘related posts’ options.

If you haven’t yet subscribed to this feed, what are you waiting for? Do it now. You can choose either email or RSS by clicking here. If you enjoyed this article please forward to your friends. Thank-you!

Add a comment:

RELATED POSTS:

I remember the first time I was really able to look myself directly in the eyes in the mirror. It was the first time I felt, for the smallest moment, a flicker of ‘maybe it’s okay to be me’. But mainly? I felt pain. I want to talk about that, and about what self love

One of the things which you’ll find to be undeniably true, and more and more difficult to ignore, as you go about your journey, is the fact that the only reason to do the things? Is ’cause you wanna do the things. In your earlier years of pursuing success, when you’re entrepreneurially or purposeful life

It doesn’t matter how kickass your content is, how QUALITY your programs are, how consistent you are with showing up and sharing your truth, if you’re not showing the world the true power of who you really are and being fascinating as FUCK in doing so. The Internet is filled with wannabe messengers | entrepreneurs

The single biggest and most transformative shift I’ve experienced in my entire life has been something I’ve known the ENTIRE fucking time (and definitely utilised as well; a LOT!), but really only GOT and REALISED I could use, in the last 12 months or so. Can you guess what it is? This is the thing